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Advances in the role and mechanism of zonulin pathway in kidney diseases

International Urology and Nephrology volume 53, pages 2081–2088 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

The intestinal barrier is the first line of defense against foreign antigens. Tight junctions play an important role in maintaining the function of the intestinal wall. Zonulin is the only physiological protein discovered in recent years that can reversibly regulate tight junctions in human body. It changes the permeability of intestinal epithelial cells by regulating the state of tight junctions. Increased intestinal permeability can lead to abnormal activation of intestinal mucosal immune and bacterial translocation, then inducing systemic inflammation. It has already been reported that zonulin plays an important pathogenic role in a variety of diseases by regulating tight junctions leading to an abnormal increase of intestinal permeability. However, the research on the pathogenic role and mechanism of zonulin pathway in kidney disease is still in its infancy. Therefore, we reviewed the progress on pathophysiological characteristics of zonulin as well as the pathogenesis of zonulin in kidney disease in this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Jie Yu, Ying Shen & Nan Zhou

  2. National Center for Children’s Health (Beijing), Beijing, China

    Jie Yu, Ying Shen & Nan Zhou

  3. Key Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease and Blood Purification in Childhood (Beijing), Beijing, China

    Ying Shen & Nan Zhou

  4. Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China

    Ying Shen & Nan Zhou

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  1. Jie Yu
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  2. Ying Shen
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  3. Nan Zhou
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Literature search and data analysis were performed by JY and NZ. The first draft of the manuscript was written by JY and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nan Zhou.

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Yu, J., Shen, Y. & Zhou, N. Advances in the role and mechanism of zonulin pathway in kidney diseases. Int Urol Nephrol 53, 2081–2088 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-020-02756-9

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